can suspension become noisy with age?

Post by **Alex** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:05 pm

Hey guys,

My liberty is currently using the factory subaru struts with low king springs all round. Ive been running this combo since i bought the car (at 60,000km) it is about to hit 200 000km.

Ive noticed a really really annoying rattle recently in the front right area. I have pulled the strut out, pulled the spring out and re-assembled, everything looks fine including the strut top.

The rattle is present when hitting very small bumps but gets worse when im going abit quicker over a rough patchy road.

I was hitting the bottom of the strut base with a rubber mallet when i reinstalled the strut and i could sort of replicate the sound doing this.

Can struts/springs get noisy with age? I understand the king springs will wear out my struts alot quicker due to the stiffness.

Im also pretty sure the kind springs have sagged. Time for a new set of springs and struts?

The car has newish whiteline sway bar links, an anti-liftkit and newish balljoints as well as tierod ends so i cant really see anynoise coming from anywhere else apart from the struts themselves.

Alex

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:51 pm

Did you replace the swaybar links or just the bars? as I've seen a lot of swaybar links make odd noises over my time, even when they look in good condition.

Other option is to drive down to the workshop and chuck her on the hoist?

Post by **Alex** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:12 pm

RSR 555 wrote:Did you replace the swaybar links or just the bars? as I've seen a lot of swaybar links make odd noises over my time, even when they look in good condition.

Other option is to drive down to the workshop and chuck her on the hoist?

its just the swaybar links i replaced (typo sorry)

its like a higher pitched metallic sound.

I think i might come down the workshop when youre free and lets have a look. I think i might have a torn CV boot which i should probably tend to soon as well.

timmo · Post by **timmo** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:55 pm

I've had struts and shockers making clunking noises if they're stuffed or bent

M0rpH · Post by **M0rpH** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:12 pm

Sounds like the dampener inside the shock has decided to give up the ghost.
Symptoms sound about right.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 9:17 am

At 200,000kms of your driving, I'd say the shockies are shagged.

If the B4 ones are any good, I could be persuaded to sell them.. we can look at them next time I'm home?

Davidov · Post by **Davidov** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:00 pm

Are the whiteline links of the ball joint type?
What i found with my whiteline links, is that the the bolt that goes through the hole of the end of the swaybar is a lot smaller diameter than the hole, so this allows movement and causes me a metallic clunking. I haven't made a solution to it yet on mine.

Jump under the car and give both front and back swaybars a good hard rattle back and forth to see if theres movement and if it makes a noise.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:28 pm

Or just undo one side and take for a test drive

Post by **Alex** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:47 pm

Actually davidov that rings a bell. I'll have a look

Sent from my Motorola RAZR HD

taza · Post by **taza** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:52 pm

The D bushes on the swaybars wear out and can cause clunking... It's happened to my foz

Post by **Alex** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 4:01 pm

It isn't a clunk. It sounds metallic higher pitched.

Highly doubt any bushes are dead. It'll be the sway bar link(might need a regrease) or something internally in terms strut.

Sent from my Motorola RAZR HD

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:02 pm

We get the same thing in the Forester, only on the drivers side, and it only has 174000kms

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 3:00 pm

Either way Alex, after 200,000kms the shockies are probably stuffed and worth replacing anyway. I saw a set of 07 Bilsteins on Gumtree today.. only low kms too

Post by **Alex** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 2:56 pm

RSR 555 wrote:Either way Alex, after 200,000kms the shockies are probably stuffed and worth replacing anyway. I saw a set of 07 Bilsteins on Gumtree today.. only low kms too

yeah i'll be taking it off the road in afew weeks for a big overhaul. She hit 200k on the weekend. Needs the big service now!

Not really keen on bilsteins to be honest, i heard they flog out after about 100k.

Think i'll just get some new king springs and KYBs and be done with it. Im not really into handling mods like i was 2 years ago. I just need it to be comfy, reliable driver

alex

Post by **TOONGA** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:07 pm

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DGR-coilover ... 4170c24d09

or this one with bling

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KIDO-RACING- ... 3a708aba50

that will solve the problem

TOONGA

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:18 pm

Alex wrote:Not really keen on bilsteins to be honest, i heard they flog out after about 100k.

No probs Alex

Alex wrote:Think i'll just get some new king springs and KYBs and be done with it. Im not really into handling mods like i was 2 years ago. I just need it to be comfy, reliable driver

He just said he doesn't want to go 'boy racer' suspension and you offer him this

TOONGA wrote:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DGR-coilover ... 4170c24d09

or this one with bling

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KIDO-RACING- ... 3a708aba50

that will solve the problem

TOONGA

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:16 pm

M0rpH wrote:Sounds like the dampener inside the shock has decided to give up the ghost.

RSR 555 wrote:I'd say the shockies are shagged.

My thoughts too. Struts can still be "good enough" but will produce a slight noise as they move up and down - more noticeable on a road with very slight imperfections rather than "proper" bumps.

Also it'd be worth going for genuine struts as these are oil filled as opposed to gas filled. Gas is good for onroad travelling but from what I've read/been told they won't last as long as the oil filled units. Plus the oil filled units can take more abuse before they fade out.

Cheers

Bennie